Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Beat Diabetes

SOURCE: Bastyr Center for Natural Health

The quickest way to stomp out diabetes naturally is to limit yourself to 1300 calories a day--45% percent of calories from carbohydrates, 31% from proteins. But staying mobile is important, too. And there are some great foods that can help balance and control blood sugars.

Many will warn diabetics against eating fruit, but this is misleading. Apple peels contain quercetin, a flavanoid that has been helpful in reducing diabetes due to its antioxidant effect. Oranges, which are the most popular citrus fruit, have a low rating on the glycemic index. Oranges are also a source of many other phtonutrients that can help you fight diabetes, including flavonoids, carotenoids, terpines, pectins and glutathione.

Great vegetables to consider contain high anti-oxidant levels. Asparagus is a member of the lily family, the edible part of the asparagus plant is actually a sprout or shoot that appears underground. Asparagus is an excellent source of glutathione, an antioxidant compound that can help keep your blood sugar stable. Legumes are also important. Beans contain many different phytonutrients that can help your body fight the disease. Dried beans are the healthiest, but canned are good, too. And broccoli is an excellent source of quercetin, another valuable diabetes fighter. Carrots are loaded with carotenoids, antioxidant compounds that can help protect the heart and balance your insulin levels.

Snacks can even help if you pick nuts or soy snacks. Nuts are a great source of protien, and are packed with minerals and healthy fats. Soy is a legume (bean), but so many snack foods and supplements are now made with soy it almost stands as its own category. Soy provides phytoestrogens, isoflavones and saponins that can help balance your blood sugar. Soy is among the healthiest foods on earth.

It's not necessary to eliminate meat, but including more fish is a very good strategy. Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids can also help balance your blood sugar levels.

Drink tea, and don't be afraid of red wine in moderation. Both have phytonutrients such tannins that can help balance your blood sugars.

MOVE-- healthy movement and exercise are your greatest friend!

Labels: diabetes, diet, health

posted by Ahmed J El Anjanar @ 7:45 AM,

3 Comments:

At August 25, 2010 at 10:14 AM,  Trisha said...

AWESOME post! I didn't know most of this.

 

At August 26, 2010 at 1:49 PM,  Ahmed J El Anjanar said...

Thank you, Trisha!

 

At August 26, 2010 at 2:52 PM,  Hailey Edwards said...

Thank you for this information. My brother was diagnosed with diabetes last week. Although my father is also diabetic, my brother's blood sugar is wildly out of control.

I'm grateful for the bit of guidance this post offered while my family struggles to get him healthy again.

 

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